Holland Picks Up Endorsements From #3 and #4 Finishers

From a release:

In a joint announcement Monday Calhoun City Alderman Marshall Coleman and Tupelo Attorney Brian Neely announced their endorsement of Rep. Steve Holland for U S. Congress and asked their supporters to vote for Holland in the second primary on April 1. Coleman and Neely garnered more than 23,000 votes in the March 11 primary.

"Steve Holland's record of public service is one of helping people," Coleman said in explaining why he is voting for Rep. Holland. "I believe Steve Holland will be this region's strongest candidate."

"My relationship with Steve Holland and our families go back through the years and we have many mutual friends," Neely remarked. "Steve Holland is a proven winner who can be victorious in the Special Election and in November."

"I certainly am humbled and deeply appreciative for this endorsement and pledge that our campaign will continue to build momentum that will carry us to victory on April 1," Holland stated. "Both of these men have served their country honorably in the military as well as on the local level in elected and appointed positions. I am pleased to receive their support today."

...

Coleman and Neely were the top African American candidates and recieved 13 and 11 percent of the vote.

It'll be interesting to see who shows up to vote in the runoff election without a marquee race at the top.

The Results So Far: / Obama Vs. Clinton and Local Races

Clarion Ledger:

Democratic Primary President:
President - Dem Primary
1590 of 1912 Precincts Reporting - 83%
Name Party Votes Vote %
Obama, Barack Dem 200,509 59%
Clinton, Hillary Dem 132,082 39%

Senate Primary:
U.S. Senate - Dem Primary
1583 of 1912 Precincts Reporting - 83%
Name Party Votes Vote %
Fleming, Erik Dem 181,594 65%
O'Hara, Shawn Dem 96,682 35%

Democratic Primary District 1:
U.S. House - District 1 - Dem Primary
448 of 462 Precincts Reporting - 97%
Max Runoff Cands=2
Name Party Votes Vote %
Childers, Travis Dem 37,811 41%
Holland, Steve Dem 29,012 31%
Coleman, Marshall Dem 11,952 13%
Neely, Brian Dem 9,952 11%
Hurt, Ken Dem 3,836 4%

Democratic Primary District 3:
U.S. House - District 3 - Dem Primary
461 of 565 Precincts Reporting - 82%
Name Party Votes Vote %
Gill, Joel Dem 34,679 55%
Eads, Randy Dem 28,902 45%

A couple points:
- The 13% Republican vote can only partially explain the total for Shawn O'Hara (a perennial candidate who I have little respect for) What else is at play here? Are voters punishing him for his past or is racism at play?
- Childers and Holland will go to a runoff to be help on the 1st of April. Both are good choices. I look forward to a respectful couple of weeks.
- Joel Gill is to the right of Gene Taylor and I doubt he will lead a spirited challenge in the 3rd district. If he does intend to fight for it, I do look forward to assisting him. My first choice was proud Democrat Randy Eads.

2008 Candidates For Democratic Nominations

THE CANDIDATES:

U.S. Senate (seat now held by Republican Thad Cochran)
• Erik R. Fleming
• Shawn O’Hara.

U.S. House, 1st District (open seat)
• Travis W. Childers.
• Marshall W. Coleman.
• Steve Holland.
• James K. “Ken” Hurt.
• Brian Neely.

U.S. House, 2nd District (Democrat Bennie Thompson, incumbent)
• Dorothy Benford.
• Bennie G. Thompson (incumbent).

U.S. House, 3rd District (open seat)
• Randy Eads.
• Joel L. Gill.

U.S. House, 4th District (Democrat Gene Taylor, incumbent)
• Gene Taylor.

(provided by the Mississippi Democratic Party)